Lava Baby is not the biggest rock group in the world. The members did, however, recently use their semi-rockstar status to evade the police.

"He thought we were a big, famous rock band," drummer Miss Brown said during an interview on the road, after being pulled over and getting away without trouble.

But if the group has its way, it will be that recognizable someday. And with the amount of exposure Lava Baby has been getting recently, it just might.

The band plays Tony's Big Easy, McAllister Alley, on Wednesday, headlining the "Passion Tour," a spring-break promotion that is traveling to about 27 colleges this fall.

Lava Baby is a New York-based, girl-powered rock pop quintet. The group was founded by Brown and lead vocalist/guitarist Robyn Banx, who actually met at age 5 and have been writing together since first grade.

"Music's been everything since I can remember... But I started with the guitar so I would have something with me onstage when I sang," Banx said with a laugh.

Though keyboardist Jen-Jen also powers the group's girl growl, bassist Peter Cole and guitarist Mr. Marc add some "energetic dude rock." The three were added to the group after an extensive audition process.

The band is touring in support of the release of its second album, Big Muff, supposedly named after Banx's favorite guitar effect. The disc marks Lava Baby's first major deal, released by the BMG-distributed Liquid 8 Records.

Local music buffs might have the group's name fresh in their minds, as Lava Baby performed at Café 210 West, 210 W. College Ave., on Sept. 12. The show kicked off the "Passion Tour."

"It was the first show of the tour, so it was kind of uncharted territory," Brown said. "But it went pretty well. We were unknown at the time, but we had a good reception. We felt that vibe."

In addition to the album release, Lava Baby has been promoting itself heavily the past few months. The group was profiled on VH1, had three songs played on television teen-drama Dawson's Creek and licensed its CD to be used as background music for the next season of MTV's The Real World.

"We are a really pop- and commercial-oriented band," Brown said. "We're made for commercial success. I want my music to be heard on the biggest level."

This unique tour also consists of several contests that concertgoers can participate in, including a model search by Models.com, sweepstakes to win trips to Barbados for next year's spring break, and Jensen Audio car stereo prizes.

"We are bringing Barbados and the Caribbean spring break 'vibe' to colleges in the fall, so that the students will come to back to the island of Barbados next spring," tour coordinator Mike Tumminia said in a press release.

Lava Baby was selected as the representatives of spring break fun because of their own good time rock sound.

"We're a lot of fun," Brown said. "We truly are having a blast -- you know, what you see is what you get, and I think the audience can tell and connect with that."